CHICAGO, Ill. (LourdesAthletics.com) – Competing in the SXU Tri-Match #2 Tournament on Saturday, the Lourdes University's men's volleyball team split a pair of non-conference matches inside the Shannon Center. The Gray Wolves fell in straight sets to undefeated and No. 2-ranked Saint Xavier University before rebounding with a four-set win over Viterbo University. 

Match One: No. 2 Saint Xavier 3, Lourdes 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20)
In the opening match of the day, Lourdes (11-9) squared off with the second-ranked team in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll and unbeaten Saint Xavier (24-0). Despite a competitive effort, the Gray Wolves were swept in three sets as the Cougars hit .358 as a team and tallied 53 kills.

Felipe Tramontin led Lourdes with eight kills, followed by Vinicius Lopes with seven and Jaber Badarne with six. Joey Bianco dished out 17 assists and added three blocks, while Brayden Moyars led the back row with 10 digs.

Match Two: Lourdes 3, Viterbo 1 (25-19, 24-26, 25-17, 25-15)
The Gray Wolves responded in the afternoon session with a strong showing against Viterbo (4-27), winning in four sets to improve to 12-9 on the season. Lourdes recorded 67 kills and hit .320 as a team, while also firing 12 service aces.

Vinicius Lopes led all attackers with 18 kills and hit .406, and Juan Diego Vargas Mendoza added a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Mitch Hoffman was a force at the service line, finishing with six aces, and Daniel Nascimento handed out 35 assists to go along with 14 digs. Brayden Moyars anchored the defense again with a match-high 16 digs.

Lourdes finished with a 66-54 edge in digs and held the V-Hawks to a .224 hitting clip, including just .143 in the decisive fourth set.

Up Next:
Receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 15 Coaches' Poll released April 2, Lourdes returns to Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action on Tuesday, April 8, traveling to Siena Heights University. First serve from Adrian is set for 7 p.m.